Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-04-20
What Iona Did.

nine-and-twenty. And her friends sale
''One year more" laughing naliciously an
wagging their heads, and knowing that tfl
next year would be spent as the last twelv
had been, in flirting in quiet, subduec
iady-like way but securing no one.
Despite her wit, beauty and accomplish
ments, for Iona had all of these, sho ha
always been looked upon as an old maid.
Perhaps it was that little romance in he
early budding womanhood, when peopl
thought she was engaged, and soon to b
married, that kept suitovs away from her,
Ferhaps it was her own disnclination t
wed. Certain it was that Iona always hat
plenty of admirers, ard everybody wa
ready to swear to her goodness, but som
way she didn't marry. And now Kindait
was sure that she never would, for theT,
wasn't an eligible young man in town, aut
Iona had heretofore laughed at this awfn
thirty, but now she set her lips in
straight line, and said
"I'll do it. I may be heartless wretci
for it" she thought, ga miserable, plotting
old maid, but I'll marry Otho Percival be
fore Pm year older. They shall not cal
me an old maid any longer" And he,
mind enco made up, nothing could alter il
or turn her from her purpose.
She made preparations for a journey into
an adjoining town, where Ohio Percival
resided, to visit her aunt, who had always
held Mr.. Percival up as a model man, and
really wished Iona would secure him.
Heretofore Miss Ross had always laughed
and said, "What, that old man, Aunt
Mary?"
He isn't very old-not vet fifty-not
more than forty-fiye, and you'll be an old
maid soon," Aunt Mary returned, severely
"Perbaps but don't fret overit, auntie.''
This was during her first visit Of six
months before, when Iona had scarcely
spoken with Mr.. Percival She had seen
him ever since she was child, but never
exchanged many words with him, nOtwith-
standing Mr.. Percival was very socIable,
and fond of ladies' society but hs never
seemed to have any time for Miss Ross, nor
she for him. They seemed to shun each
other, he because he knew she was a sort
of coqnette without being actually one, and
she because she fancied he didn't care to
know her. Her mind was made up, how
lever, and as soon as she was safely at Aunt
Mary's, and resting, she prepared to hear
the usual amount of gossip.
''Young Fred Linton is married, Iona. !"
els he indeed To whom?''
'To that Hart girl, you remember. She
must be good deal older than Fred. A
real Gu IlldlQ.
''Nearly as old as I am, Aunt Mary"
she said.
"You don't call yourself an old maid?"
mo, don't I've made up my mind to
get married, if CAM
eyes, that's what YOU ALWAYS saw. Miss
Dunton is in town now.'
"Who is Miss Dunton?'
ga very charming lady. She gives read
ings sometimes-very choice and select
and wins great applause. She is relative
of Mrs. Bridgewater.
'Oh! Then of course she's select, and all
that. The Bridgewaters couldn't have a
relative that wasn't, you know"
| "You re queer girl, Iona, and you al
ways did dislike the Bridgewaters. But
you'll like Miss Dunten, I'm sure. Ohio
Percival is quite struck on her."
| Iona sat bolt upright q Laonent and look
cd at her aunt with raised eyebrows and
wide-open eyes. Then she lay back and
laughed almost hystericaly
''Ha, ha She's after Otho PercivaI, is
| she! How many moro I wonder?"
Aunt Mary didn't reply. She was
little bit angry to think her niece would
never enter the list herself. Kind soul, she
did not know that Iona was thinking even
now of the rival that had come before her
Miss Dunton-and she shut her lips in a
hard, straight line, when she thought how
she meant to win, and throw Miss Duntcn
in the shade.
"Aggie Graham is here, too," Aunt Mary
ventured, at last.
els she on the list, too?''
"Yes, | suppose SO. At least, her aunt
is trying to make match for her, and
they're both jealous of Miss Dunton." !"
Again Miss Dunton, as though she had
thrown every one else in the shade; and
Iona, laughing again, said, "My dear aunt,
l begin to want to sec this wonderful bliss
Dunton."
"You.will have the pleasure, I presume,
as she and Mrs. Bridgewater will call this
evening"
'Gndeed ~
'Yes; and Othe Percival always hap
pens in when she's here
Iona Ross did not laugh this time. She
merely arose from the lounge with yawa,
saying ''Well, I shall have to dress for
evening, then, I suppose, ard it's q terrible
BORE
eyes; Miss Dunton always dresses nicely,
like lady. / wish you could hear her
read.
"Is she very wonderful"
''She's a very fine reader. Mr.. Percival
thinks he never heard q better. ] think
you can read as well, iona. -
''Do you, really?'
"Qrite."
In that moment her resolution was made
She would not give public readings, but she
would read for Otho Percival. She dressed
herself carefully. She had never looked
better, and she did not look twenty, and
she used no cosmetics nor rouge, either
Her hair and teeth were her own, not
bought and paid for, but gifts of nature
that she had carefully preserved
"You'll do, Iona Ross, | think, " she said,
as she made a sweeping bow to herself in
the opposite mirror. you're not in love
with Otho Percival, nor any other man,
but you are going to marry him, all the
| same"
| She swept into the parlor regal and
stately as an empress, where Aunt Mary
was trying to entertain Mrs. Bridgewater,
little Miss Dunton and Mr.. Percival. She
b.wed coolly to Mr.. Percival as though he
wasn't Of any account, any way, said "How
do you DEP" to Mrs. Bridgewater, and ac-
knowledged her introduction to Miss Dun
ton with a smiling "Happy to meet you,"
and the campaign had fairly begun.
Miss Dunton, for a reader, lecturer, and
woman who advocated woman's rights,
| was playing remarkably weak ana .Vlne-
Ike role. She was just saying when Iona
game in that she got so tired of the battle
of life sometimes; and after Miss Ross's
little breezy disturbance Mr.. Percival, wbe
was under the spell Of the enchantress, and
thought Miss Dunton about as uear perfec-
tion as women generally are, leaned for
ward and said in an aside, "Why not throw
your burdens on stronger shoulders, then?"
| 'Alas, l have but little faith in any cne's
strength, with soft little futtering SIGH
that touched the genteman's heart, as she
meant it should.
'Let me teach you faith, he said.
Aunt Mary and Mrs. Bridgewater were
in deep conversation. He had almost for
gotten Iona until he casually glanced in
her direction and met the scoEnful glance
of her proud dark eyes, and q look of utter
contempt on her face, whether for himself
| or his cOmnapioD he co0l1 nnt tell Efa